JP2017103800A - Communication device, information terminal, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that because when handover switchover is started in a state that a communication method at a switchover destination is not immediately available, certain time is required for changing into an available state, it is difficult for switchover source apparatus to control a communication connection request at appropriate timing on the basis of the communication method at the switchover destination.SOLUTION: Information related to a power activation state is notified in advance to a user in a communication method before switchover. On the basis of the information, transmission timing to request communication connection in the communication method at a switchover destination is controlled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting and receiving information by wireless communication.

  In recent years, a mechanism called handover has been proposed as a technique for realizing setting for communication connection such as a wireless LAN or Bluetooth (registered trademark) with a simple operation. A handover uses a communication method with a narrow communication range such as NFC (Near Field Communication), and exchanges setting information necessary for authentication between devices, and then a communication method with a wider communication range such as a wireless LAN. It is a mechanism to switch to.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a handover switching request is received, it is determined whether or not the switching destination communication method is in an available state. A mechanism for switching to a communication method has been proposed.

JP 2011-151746 A

  According to the mechanism proposed in Patent Document 1, even when the switching destination communication method is not usable in the communication device, the switching process can be performed by changing the communication method to a usable state during the handover process. is there. However, the switching process takes a certain time. For this reason, for example, when the time until availability becomes long, there is a possibility that the information terminal cannot continue to receive a response to the communication connection request. Then, depending on the information terminal, when the predetermined number of retries is exceeded, there is a possibility that the handover process is determined to have failed.

  A communication apparatus according to the present invention includes a first communication unit that receives information based on a startup state of an external apparatus from the external apparatus according to a first wireless communication protocol, and a second that is different from the first wireless communication protocol. Second communication means for establishing a connection with the external device according to the wireless communication protocol, and according to the information based on the activation state of the external device received from the external device via the first communication means, Control means for controlling a sequence for establishing a connection with the external device by a second communication means, and the control means is a sequence for establishing a connection with the external device by the second communication means. The second communication means is controlled so as to wait for a waiting period corresponding to information based on the activation state for transmission of the first connection request in.

  According to the present invention, a procedure for establishing communication can be performed at an appropriate timing.

The figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the communication apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the data format of the tag memory in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the internal structure of the information terminal in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the network system structure in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the conventional handover process in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process which stores information in the tag memory in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the process sequence of the handover process in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the determination table in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the failure notification screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the data format of the tag memory in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the flow of the process which stores information in the tag memory in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows the process sequence of the handover process in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the determination table in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the remaining time notification screen in Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

<Configuration of Communication Device 100>
FIG. 1 is a processing block diagram showing an internal configuration of a communication apparatus 100 exemplifying a communication apparatus according to the present invention. As the communication device, for example, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a music player, a so-called tablet terminal, a personal computer, a so-called mobile access point, or the like can be used. As shown in FIG. 1, a communication device 100 includes a control unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, a display unit 104, an operation unit 105, a recording unit 106, a near field communication unit 107, a near field communication unit 108, and a tag memory 110 inside. The power supply control unit 111 is provided. The components from the control unit 101 to the short-range wireless communication unit 108 are connected to each other by an internal bus 109 serving as a data transmission path. The tag memory 110 is provided in the proximity wireless communication unit 107. The power control unit 111 is controlled by the control unit 101, the operation unit 105, and the proximity wireless communication unit 107.

  The control unit 101 is a processing block that controls the entire communication apparatus 100, and is configured by a CPU, for example, and implements various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM 102.

  The ROM 102 is a non-volatile memory and stores a processing program executed by the control unit 101 and data.

  The RAM 103 is a volatile memory, and is used as a working memory for the control unit 101 and a temporary storage area for data.

  The display unit 104 is a processing block that displays and outputs information to the user, and includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, and the like.

  The operation unit 105 is a processing block that receives an instruction input from a user, and includes a button, a cross key, a touch panel, and the like.

  The recording unit 106 is a processing block that stores and reads information on a large-capacity recording medium such as an internal hard disk, an internal flash memory, or a removable memory card.

  The near field communication unit 107 is a processing block that performs near field communication using an NFC (Near Field Communication) system that uses a 13.56 MHz band frequency. Although the communication distance by the close proximity wireless transfer unit 107 varies depending on the environment, it is assumed to be within 10 cm. The near field communication unit 107 includes a resonance circuit having a predetermined inductance and capacitance, a demodulation circuit that demodulates a signal received by the resonance circuit, a transmission circuit that amplifies a carrier wave and transmits the carrier wave. The proximity wireless communication unit 107 includes a tag memory 110 therein, and has a function of transmitting information stored in the tag memory 110 to an external device having an NFC reader / writer function as an NFC card function. This function is an example of information transmission means. In this embodiment, NFC is used as the close proximity wireless communication, but other communication methods such as IrDA may be used.

  Here, FIG. 2 shows an example of the data format of the tag memory 110 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the tag memory 110 has a total capacity of 64 bytes, and information on the SSID (16 bytes), the encryption key (16 bytes), the power activation state (1 byte), and the activation enable / disable state (1 byte). Can be stored. The SSID (Service Set Identifier) and the encryption key are information necessary for connecting to a wireless LAN network generated by the short-range wireless communication unit 108 described later. The power activation state is information indicating the power activation state of the communication device 100. In the present embodiment, three types, “0: on state (normal)”, “1: on state (energy saving)”, and “2: off state”, are defined as the power-on state. “0: ON state (normal)” is a state in which all functional blocks of the communication apparatus 100 are operating, and corresponds to a state in which the user is operating, for example. “1: ON state (energy saving)” is a state in which only some of the functional blocks are operating, and corresponds to, for example, a standby mode state in which the user is not operating. In this state, the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 described later is not activated. “2: Off state” is a state in which the communication apparatus 100 is powered off. The activation enable / disable state is information indicating whether the communication apparatus 100 can transition from “2: OFF state” to “0: ON state (normal)” or “1: ON state (energy saving)”. It is indicated by either “possible” or “1: not possible”. The activation enable / disable state is information that is valid only when the power activation state is “2: off state”. For example, when the battery-powered communication device 100 has no remaining battery power and the power activation state is “2: off state”, the activation availability state is “1: impossible”. These power-on states are examples of a plurality of operation modes.

  The tag memory 110 described above can be read and written from the control unit 101, and can also be read and written by proximity wireless communication from an external device having an NFC reader / writer function. Note that, when close proximity wireless communication is performed with an external device, control is performed using electric power generated by electromagnetic induction when a radio wave supplied from the external device is received. For this reason, even if the communication apparatus 100 is in a power-off state, reading and writing can be performed from an external device.

  Returning to the description of FIG. The short-range wireless communication unit 108 is a processing block that performs wireless LAN communication using the IEEE 802.11 method, which has a longer communication range than the close-range wireless communication unit 107. The short-range wireless communication unit 108 includes a baseband / MAC controller circuit, an RF module, an antenna, and the like. The short-range wireless communication unit 108 has an access point function for generating a wireless LAN network itself, and accepts a wireless LAN connection request from an external device having a station function. Note that the short-range wireless communication unit 108 is not necessarily a wireless LAN communication unit, and for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) may be used.

  The power control unit 111 is a block that controls battery power supply of the entire communication device 100, and is controlled by the control unit 101, the operation unit 105, and the proximity wireless communication unit 107. Specifically, when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold, the control unit 101 executes a power-off process. Further, when power processing is executed by a user's power button operation, control is executed according to an input signal from the operation unit 105. When a power-on process is executed from an external device by near field wireless communication using the NFC method, control is executed according to a signal from the near field wireless communication unit 107.

<Configuration of information terminal>
FIG. 3 is a processing block diagram showing an internal configuration of the information terminal 300 exemplifying the information terminal in the present invention. As the information terminal, for example, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a music player, a so-called tablet terminal, a personal computer, or the like can be used. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the information terminal 300 includes a control unit 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a display unit 304, an operation unit 305, a recording unit 306, a proximity wireless communication unit 307, and a short-range wireless communication unit 308. These components are connected to each other by an internal bus 309 as a data transmission path.

  The control unit 301 is a processing block that controls the entire information terminal 300. The control unit 301 includes, for example, a CPU, and implements various functions by executing programs stored in the ROM 302.

  The ROM 302 is a non-volatile memory and stores a processing program executed by the control unit 301 and data.

  A RAM 303 is a volatile memory, and is used as a working memory of the control unit 301 and a temporary storage area for data.

  The display unit 304 is a processing block that displays and outputs information to the user, and is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL panel, or the like, similar to the display unit 104 of the communication device 100.

  The operation unit 305 is a processing block that accepts an instruction input from the user, and includes buttons, a cross key, a touch panel, and the like, similar to the display unit 104 of the communication apparatus 100.

  The recording unit 306 is a processing block that stores and reads information with respect to a large-capacity recording medium such as a built-in hard disk, a built-in flash memory, or a removable memory card.

  The close proximity wireless communication unit 307 is a processing block that performs close proximity wireless communication using the NFC method. The close proximity wireless communication unit 307 includes a resonance circuit having a predetermined inductance and capacitance, a demodulation circuit that demodulates a signal received by the resonance circuit, a transmission circuit that amplifies a carrier wave and transmits the carrier wave. The close proximity wireless transfer unit 307 has an NFC reader / writer function and a function of reading information from an external device having an NFC card function. This function is an example of information receiving means.

  The short-range wireless communication unit 308 is a processing block that performs wireless LAN communication using the IEEE 802.11 system. The short-range wireless communication unit 308 includes a baseband / MAC controller circuit, an RF module, an antenna, and the like. The short-range wireless communication unit 308 has a station function for connecting to a wireless LAN network generated by an access point.

<Network system configuration>
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the network system of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a digital camera as a communication device and a mobile phone as an information terminal will be described as an example of a system for wireless communication connection between them. As shown in FIG. 4, the network system includes a communication device 100 and an information terminal 300, which can communicate by near field wireless communication using the NFC method, which is a first wireless communication means. It is an example. The communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 can also communicate by short-range wireless communication using a wireless LAN method, which is an example of second wireless communication means.

  As described above, in the case of the NFC method, communication is performed by a method in which the information terminal 300 having a reader / writer function reads information stored in the tag memory 110 of the communication device 100 having a card function.

  On the other hand, in the case of the wireless LAN method, the communication device 100 has an access point function, and communication is performed by a method in which an information terminal 300 having a station function is connected to the wireless LAN network generated by the communication device 100 in the infrastructure mode. Is executed.

  FIG. 4 shows an example in which a digital camera is used as a communication device and a smartphone is used as an information terminal, but these do not limit the system configuration to which the present invention can be applied.

  Next, an outline of the flow of the conventional handover process executed in the network configuration shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that this description is based on the premise that the communication apparatus 100 and the information terminal 300 are powered on in advance.

  First, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 5, as preparation for handover, wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) for connecting to the tag memory 110 to the wireless LAN network generated by the access point function of the communication device 100 Is stored (S501). This step may be an input operation by the user via the operation unit 105, or may be automatically processed by the control unit 101 of the communication apparatus 100.

  Subsequently, when the user brings the information terminal 300 close to the communication device 100 in a state where preparation is in advance, NFC near field wireless communication is executed, and the wireless LAN parameter information stored in the tag memory 110 is stored in the information terminal 300. It is transmitted (S502). Subsequently, the information terminal 300 transmits a communication connection request to the wireless LAN network corresponding to the SSID included in the wireless LAN parameter information received in S501 (S503).

  Thereafter, the communication device 100 that has received the communication connection request transmits a response indicating the request permission to the information terminal 300 (S504), and a wireless LAN communication connection is established between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300.

  The flow of the conventional handover process has been described above.

  Up to this point, the configurations of the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 and the network system configuration in the present embodiment have been described. Next, handover processing to which the present invention is applied in such a configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Information storage process of tag memory 110>
First, a process for storing information in the tag memory 110 in the communication apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the processing here is an example of processing by the storage means.

  As a premise of this processing, the tag memory 110 stores wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) for connecting to a wireless LAN network generated by the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 in advance. And

  The processing flow illustrated in FIG. 6 is executed at a timing when the power activation state of the communication apparatus 100 is changed. As described above, the power activation state is any one of “0: on state (normal)”, “1: on state (energy saving)”, and “2: off state” in the present embodiment. For example, when the communication apparatus 100 is turned on by the user's operation or the power is turned off, this process is started. Even when the power is on, the process is executed even when the normal state is changed to the energy saving state.

  In step S <b> 601, the control unit 101 determines whether the change in the power activation state is to turn off the communication device 100. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to S602, and if it is NO, the process proceeds to S606. For example, as a case corresponding to YES, when the user power-off operation occurs and the state transits to “2: OFF state”, or when the battery remaining amount becomes less than a predetermined threshold, “2: OFF A case where the state is changed to “state” is considered. On the other hand, as a case corresponding to NO, a case where the user's power-on operation occurs and the state transits to “0: ON state (normal)” is considered. In addition, a case where the user operation does not occur for a while and the state transits to “1: ON state (energy saving)”, or the case where the user operation occurs in the energy saving mode and the state transits to “0: ON state (normal)” is considered. .

  In step S602, the control unit 101 determines whether the power can be turned on after the power is turned off. This determination process is determined based on the remaining battery level of the communication device 100. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to S603, and if it is NO, the process proceeds to S605. For example, when the battery remaining amount is less than a predetermined threshold value and the state automatically changes to “2: OFF state”, the determination is NO.

  In step S <b> 603, the control unit 101 updates information on the power activation state and the activation availability state of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is set to “2: off state”, and the activation feasibility state is set to “0: possible”.

  In step S <b> 604, the control unit 101 turns off the power of the communication apparatus 100 itself and ends this process.

  When it is determined NO in S602, in S605, the control unit 101 updates the information on the power activation state and the activation availability state of the tag memory 110. In S605, the power activation state is set to “2: OFF state”, and the activation availability state is set to “1: impossible”.

  When it is determined NO in S601, in S606, the control unit 101 performs a transition to the designated power supply operating state.

  In step S <b> 607, the control unit 101 determines whether the change in the power activation state is the power on state in the normal mode or the power state in the energy saving mode. If this determination is YES, the process proceeds to S608, and if it is NO, the process proceeds to S609.

  In step S <b> 608, the control unit 101 updates the power activation state information of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is set to “0: ON state (normal)”.

  In step S <b> 609, the control unit 101 updates the power activation state information of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is set to “1: ON state (energy saving)”.

  The information storage process in the tag memory 110 has been described above.

  In this description, as described above, it is assumed that the wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) is stored in the tag memory 110 in advance. You may make it write in the memory 110. FIG. Alternatively, a setting menu screen is displayed on the display unit 104, and the wireless LAN parameter information on the tag memory 110 is updated at a timing when the wireless LAN network setting is changed by a user input operation via the operation unit 105. Also good.

<Handover processing>
Next, details of the handover process executed between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In this description, as a typical processing sequence of the present invention, a case where the power activation state of the communication apparatus 100 is “2: off state” and the activation availability state is “0: acceptable” is exemplified. A processing sequence when processing is started will be described with reference to FIG. An example in which the power activation state and the activation availability state are other will be described later.

  In step S <b> 701, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 activates the NFC reader / writer function in response to a user operation. For example, it may be activated when a predetermined button of the operation unit 305 is pressed.

  In step S <b> 702, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 transmits a read request signal by the reader / writer function of the close proximity wireless transfer unit 307. This step is executed when the user brings the information terminal 300 and the communication device 100 close to the communicable range in NFC communication. Here, the communicable range of the NFC method is in the range of a close distance of about 10 cm. For example, a screen that prompts the user to bring the information terminal 300 close to (touch) the communication device 100 is displayed on the display unit 304 of the information terminal 300. When the user touches the communication device 100 with the information terminal 300, the read request signal transmitted from the close proximity wireless communication unit 307 reaches the close proximity wireless communication unit 107 of the communication device 100. Note that the shaded portion on the vertical axis in FIG. 7 indicates a state in which the devices are close to each other within the communicable range of NFC communication. This read request is an example of an information acquisition request.

  In step S <b> 703, the close proximity wireless transfer unit 107 of the communication device 100 reads information stored in the tag memory 110 and transmits the information to the information terminal 300 as a response signal of the read request signal. The information transmitted here includes wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) for connecting to a wireless LAN network generated by the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 of the communication device 100. Furthermore, information on the power-on state (“2: off state”) and information on whether or not it can be activated (“0: possible”) are also included. This step is executed when the communication apparatus 100 is powered off. The proximity wireless communication unit 107 of the communication device 100 performs processing using power generated by electromagnetic induction when receiving radio waves supplied from the proximity wireless communication unit 307 of the information terminal 300.

  After S703, the process of the communication device 100 (S704) and the process of the information terminal 300 (S705) are started in parallel.

  In step S <b> 704, the proximity wireless communication unit 107 of the communication device 100 controls the power supply control unit 111 to validate the battery power supply of the communication device 100 and activate the entire system of the communication device 100. At the same time, it requests the control unit 101 to validate the short-range wireless communication unit 108. Upon receiving this request, the control unit 101 activates the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108. This step is an example of processing by the enabling means.

  In step S <b> 705, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 analyzes the information received in step S <b> 703 and determines a transmission timing condition for a communication connection request by the short-range wireless communication unit 308. Specifically, whether the communication connection request from the short-range wireless communication unit 308 is transmitted by referring to the determination table prepared in advance by the information terminal 300 based on the acquired information on the start enable / disable state and the power supply start state. No, and the transmission timing condition for transmission is determined. This step is an example of processing by the determining means.

  Here, an example of the determination table in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the presence / absence of transmission of a communication connection request, the waiting time, and the number of retries are defined in the determination table, corresponding to the acquired information on the availability of activation and the power activation status. The presence / absence of transmission indicates whether the information terminal 300 transmits a communication connection request from the short-range wireless communication unit 308 after this step. The waiting time indicates a waiting time from the timing at which this step is processed to the timing at which the information terminal 300 transmits a communication connection request by the short-range wireless communication unit 308. The number of retries indicates the maximum number of trials for a communication connection request transmitted from the short-range wireless communication unit 308. In the example of this processing sequence, the power activation state is “2: off state” and the activation availability state is “0: acceptable”. 3 transmission conditions are determined.

  Returning to FIG. In S706, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 waits for a predetermined time based on the waiting time condition in the transmission timing condition determined in S705. Here, the control unit 301 may activate the station function when the station function of the short-range wireless communication unit 308 is not valid.

  In S707, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 controls the short-range wireless communication unit 308 to connect to the wireless LAN network generated by the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 of the communication device 100. A communication connection request is transmitted to the communication device 100. This step corresponds to connection request means in the present invention. Here, the wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) acquired in S703 is used. In this description, as shown in FIG. 7, at the time of execution of this step, the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 of the communication device 100 is still activated and not activated. Therefore, the response to the communication connection request transmitted in S707 is not executed.

  In S708, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 determines that a timeout has occurred because a response from the communication device 100 to the communication connection request transmitted in S707 has not been received for a predetermined time. The timeout time here may be 500 milliseconds or 1 second.

  In S709, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 transmits the communication connection request to the communication device 100 again based on the retry count condition in the transmission timing condition determined in S705. At this timing, since the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 of the communication device 100 is enabled, the transmitted communication connection request is received by the communication device 100.

  In step S710, the control unit 101 of the communication apparatus 100 determines that the wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) transmitted in step S709 is valid, and controls the short-range wireless communication unit 108 to send a communication connection request. A response to be permitted is transmitted to the information terminal 300. Thereby, a wireless LAN communication connection is established between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300. This step is an example of processing by the connection request response means.

  The details of the handover process executed between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 in the present embodiment have been described above with reference to FIG.

  Here, No. 2 in FIG. Examples of the power-on state other than 3 and the start-up availability state will be described. No. In the case of the example 1, since all the functional blocks of the communication apparatus 100 are operating and the processing time of step S704 is very short, the waiting time becomes 0 seconds (or a time such as several hundred milliseconds). Step S706 on the information terminal 300 side is omitted. No. In the case of the example 2, since it is necessary to activate the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108, the processing time of step S704 is No.2. Longer than 1. However, it is necessary to start all processing blocks. Since this is longer than the case of No. 3, the waiting time (S706) is also No. 1 and No. 3 seconds in the middle of 3. No. In the case of the example 4, since the communication apparatus 100 cannot be activated, in S705, the user is notified of a screen indicating that the handover process has failed, and the handover process ends. The steps after S704 and S706 are not executed. FIG. 9 shows an example of a failure notification screen displayed on the display unit 304 to the user. No. The example of the power-on state other than 3 and the power availability state has been described.

  As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the information terminal 300 can perform control so as not to transmit a wireless LAN communication connection request as much as possible while the communication device 100 activates the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108. It becomes. Further, when the communication device 100 cannot be activated, it is possible to control not to transmit a communication connection request via a wireless LAN. As a result, the information terminal 300 can execute the transmission control of the wireless LAN communication connection request in the handover process at the optimum timing.

  In the present embodiment, the communication device 100 includes the tag memory 110 that can be read and written only by the power of the information terminal 300 in order to turn on the communication device 100 in the power-off state by near field wireless communication using the NFC method. . However, such a configuration is not essential in the present invention. When the communication device 100 whose power-on state is in the energy saving mode is changed to the normal mode by the proximity wireless communication using the NFC method, the proximity wireless communication unit 107 of the communication device 100 only needs to have an NFC card function. Alternatively, the communication apparatus 100 and the information terminal 300 may be configured to have an NFC P2P function.

[Embodiment 2]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication apparatus 100 stores wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key), power activation status, and activation availability information in the tag memory 111. In the present embodiment, an embodiment will be described in which activation time information (4 bytes) is further stored, and the transmission condition of the communication connection request for short-range wireless communication is determined according to the activation time information stored in the information terminal 300. .

  In addition, about the component which has the function structure substantially the same as Embodiment 1, duplication description is abbreviate | omitted by attaching | subjecting the same code | symbol, and the characteristic part of Embodiment 2 is demonstrated in detail.

  In addition, the internal configuration of the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 and the network system configuration in the present embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

<Configuration of Communication Device (Tag) 100>
First, FIG. 10 shows an example of the data format of the tag memory 110 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10, the tag memory 110 has a total capacity of 64 bytes, SSID (16 bytes), encryption key (16 bytes), power activation state (1 byte), activation availability state (1 byte), activation Time (4 bytes) information can be stored. The SSID, encryption key, power activation state, and activation availability state are the same as those in the first embodiment. The activation time is time information from the timing at which the information in the tag memory 110 is transmitted to the external device by the proximity wireless communication until the timing at which the short-range wireless communication unit 108 becomes available (response possible). This corresponds to the time required for step S704 in the sequence diagram shown in FIG.

<Information storage process of tag memory 110>
Next, a process for storing information in the tag memory 110 in the communication apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this description, only processing steps different from the storage processing shown in FIG. 6 in the first embodiment will be described.

  In step S <b> 1101, the control unit 101 updates information on the power supply activation state, activation availability state, and activation time of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is “2: off state”, the activation availability state is “0: acceptable”, and the activation time is “7 seconds”.

  In step S1102, the control unit 101 updates the power activation state and activation time information of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is “0: ON state (normal)”, and the activation time is “0 seconds”.

  In step S <b> 1103, the control unit 101 updates the power activation state and activation time information of the tag memory 110. In this step, the power activation state is “1: ON state (energy saving)” and the activation time is “1 second”.

  The information storage process in the tag memory 110 according to the present embodiment has been described above.

<Handover processing>
Next, the details of the handover process executed between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this description, only processing steps different from the handover processing shown in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment will be described.

  In step S1201, the close proximity wireless transfer unit 107 of the communication device 100 reads information stored in the tag memory 110 and transmits the information to the information terminal 300 as a response signal of the read request signal. The information transmitted here includes wireless LAN parameter information (SSID, encryption key) for connecting to a wireless LAN network generated by the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 of the communication device 100. Also included is information on the power-on state (“2: off state”), information on whether or not it can be activated (“0: possible”), and activation time information (7 seconds). This step is executed when the communication apparatus 100 is powered off. The proximity wireless communication unit 107 of the communication device 100 performs processing using power generated by electromagnetic induction when receiving radio waves supplied from the proximity wireless communication unit 307 of the information terminal 300.

  After S1201, the process of the communication device 100 (S704) and the process of the information terminal 300 (S1202) are started in parallel.

  In step S1202, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 analyzes the information received in step S1201 and determines a transmission timing condition for a communication connection request by the short-range wireless communication unit 308. Specifically, whether or not to transmit a communication connection request from the short-range wireless communication unit 308 by referring to a determination table provided in advance in the information terminal 300 based on the acquired activation enable / disable state and activation time information. And a transmission timing condition for transmission. Here, an example of the determination table in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 13, in the determination table, the presence / absence of transmission of a communication connection request and the waiting time corresponding to the acquired information on the availability of activation and the activation time are defined. The presence / absence of transmission indicates whether the information terminal 300 transmits a communication connection request from the short-range wireless communication unit 308 after this step. The waiting time indicates a waiting time from the timing at which this step is processed to the timing at which the information terminal 300 transmits a communication connection request by the short-range wireless communication unit 308. In the example of this processing sequence, since the activation availability state is “0: possible” and the activation time is “7 seconds”, No. 1 transmission condition is determined, and the waiting time is determined to be “7 seconds”.

  In S1203, the control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 waits for a predetermined time based on the waiting time condition in the transmission timing condition determined in S1202. Here, the control unit 301 may activate the station function when the station function of the short-range wireless communication unit 308 is not valid. Further, the display unit 304 may display the fact that it has been activated from the power-off state and the remaining waiting time so as to notify the user of the timing at which a wireless LAN communication connection is established. FIG. 14 shows an example of the remaining time notification screen displayed on the display unit 304 at this time. The control unit 301 of the information terminal 300 may count down the remaining time on this screen and notify the remaining time in real time.

  The details of the handover process executed between the communication device 100 and the information terminal 300 in the present embodiment have been described above with reference to FIG.

  As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the information terminal 300 controls the communication device 100 to transmit a wireless LAN communication connection request in accordance with the timing at which the access point function of the short-range wireless communication unit 108 is completed. Is possible. It is also possible to notify the user of the remaining waiting time. As a result, the information terminal 300 can execute the transmission control of the wireless LAN communication connection request in the handover process at the optimum timing.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, or the like) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (29)

Requesting the external device according to a first wireless communication protocol to receive information based on a startup state of the external device from the external device;
Second communication means for establishing a connection with the external device according to a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol;
Control for controlling a sequence for establishing a connection with the external device by the second communication unit in accordance with information based on an activation state of the external device received from the external device via the first communication unit Means,
The control means waits for a waiting period corresponding to the information based on the activation state for the transmission of the first connection request in the sequence for establishing a connection with the external device by the second communication means. A communication apparatus for controlling a communication means.   When the second communication means is invalid when receiving information based on the startup state of the external device, the control means validates the second communication means without waiting for the waiting period to elapse. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that The control means further retransmits the connection request when a response from the external apparatus to the first connection request is not obtained in the sequence for establishing a connection with the external apparatus by the second communication means. Control and
The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of times to retransmit the connection request is varied according to the information based on the received activation state.   4. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information based on the startup state includes information indicating whether or not the external device can return from a power-off state to a power-on state. 5. Communication device.   The information based on the activation state includes a time until the external device becomes able to use communication according to the second wireless communication protocol. The communication device described.   4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information based on the startup state includes information indicating whether the external device is in a power-off state or a power-on state. 5.   The communication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the power-on state includes information indicating either a standby state or a normal state of the external device.   The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first communication unit supplies power to the external apparatus.   The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first communication unit causes the external apparatus whose startup state is a power-off state or a standby state to start a power-on process.   The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the first communication unit supplies power to the external device to turn on the external device using the power.   11. The connection request for the second communication using the second communication unit is a request for participation in a network generated by the external device, according to claim 1. Communication device.   The communication apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the network is a wireless LAN.   The communication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first communication unit has a communication distance shorter than that of the second communication unit. The first communication means further shares parameters used for connection with the external device in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol with the external device,
The control means controls the second communication means to establish a connection with the external device by the second wireless communication using a parameter shared by the first communication means. Item 14. The communication device according to any one of Items 1 to 13. A method for controlling a communication apparatus, comprising: a first communication unit that communicates according to a first wireless communication protocol; and a second communication unit that communicates according to a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol. And
A first communication step of receiving information based on a startup state of the external device from the external device by requesting the external device according to the first wireless communication protocol;
A control step for controlling a sequence for establishing a connection with the external device using the second communication means according to the information based on the startup state of the external device received in the first communication step. And
In the control step, control is performed so as to wait for a waiting period corresponding to information based on the activation state for transmission of the first connection request in the sequence.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the communication device according to any one of claims 1 to 14. An information processing apparatus,
Control means for determining a startup state of the information processing apparatus;
First communication means for transmitting information based on the activation state to an external device according to a first wireless communication protocol;
Second communication means for establishing a connection with the external device according to a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol;
Recording means,
When the activation state changes, the control means indicates a time required from when receiving a request from the external device to enabling the second communication means based on the changed activation state. Information is recorded in the recording means;
In response to a request from the external device, the first communication unit outputs the time information as information indicating a waiting period in which the external device waits to transmit an initial connection request. Information processing device.   18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a communication parameter used for establishing a connection between the information processing apparatus and the external apparatus is recorded in the recording unit.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the activation state includes any one of an off state and a normal state.   The control means records time information based on the off state in the recording means before the activation state becomes the off state when the activation state becomes the off state. The information processing apparatus described in 1.   20. When the activation state becomes the normal state, the control unit records time information based on the normal state in the recording unit after the activation state becomes the normal state. The information processing apparatus described in 1.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a time indicated by the time information based on the normal state is shorter than a time indicated by the time information based on the off state.   The information according to claim 19, wherein if the request is received from the external device via the first communication unit when the activation state is the off state, the activation state becomes the normal state. Processing equipment.   The said time information shows the time required until the said information processing apparatus becomes a state which can communicate using a said 2nd communication means, The any one of Claims 17 thru | or 23 characterized by the above-mentioned. Information processing device.   25. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first communication unit receives external power from the external apparatus and operates using the external power.   26. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first communication unit can be accessed from the external apparatus according to NFC.   27. The information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the second communication unit establishes wireless communication with the external apparatus according to a wireless LAN protocol. First communication means for communicating with an external device according to a first wireless communication protocol, and second communication means and recording means for communicating with the external device according to a second wireless communication protocol different from the first wireless communication protocol A method of controlling an information processing apparatus comprising:
Determining an activation state of the information processing apparatus;
When the activation state changes, based on the activation state after the change, time information indicating a time required from when the request from the external device is received until the second communication unit is validated is the recording unit And outputting the time information via the first communication means as information indicating a time for waiting for transmission of the first connection request by the external device in response to a request from the external device And a method for controlling the information processing apparatus.   A computer-readable program for causing a computer to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 27.

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